German Beer Appreciation 2025

Pedantic point; it's not a "Dortmunder," it's an Export strength lager.

That misinterpretation of "Dortmunder Export" started a long time ago and the US beer community hasn't been able to disconnect the two.

 

A little late since I sampled this a week ago, but here it is.


Hadn't tried this previously so a review is imminent. Until then...

Bready and soft with some good melanoidin character. Since the price is much better than the Original around me, I can see picking up a 4-pack now and again.

 

Yeah, most Dortmunder-style beers are of export strength, but not all export strength beers are of the Dortmunder style.

Back when DAB and DUB were popular German beers here in the U.S. the "Dortmunder Export" on their labels got misinterpreted as the actual style. It's been muddy ever since.

 

I always have this beer in my home bar. A rack of 20x500ml bottles runs about 17 Euro

 

Do you have a preference for this 'new' Helles from Weihenstephaner vs. the Original? If so, why?

Prost!

 

I was introduced to Dortmunder in San Diego in the winter of 69-70. Our LaJolla rental was near the slightly posh Bratskeller, which featured draft Ritterbrau (light and dark). We would walk over for an occasional treat at the bar on quiet evenings. I remember light as the perfect German pale lager, and the dark just as good, A great contrast to the Coors on tap at El Sombrero (as memorialized by Jack Tempchin:
I didn't see Tempchin there, but enjoyed "Avery Pitts" bluegrass on weekends.

 

The Helles or the Original?

 

Helles it is much better. Sometimes I have noticed in othere beers that what is sent to the US is not the same as here. As we saw with Ettal.

 

I have never compared the two dirrectly however we have done more than one tasting with the top Helles's in my homebar and the Helles from Weihenstephaner ranks in the top two or three everytime.

 

If you are wondering why the oldest brewery in the world, run by one of the royal Bavarian families Weihenstephan makes such great beers have a look at this. https://www.lse.ls.tum.de/en/bgt/home/

 

A good one from the Black Forest. One of the resturants here in my village serves it.

 

I see very few dunkelweisses anymore, and I'm glad that Weihenstephaner's is still regularly available. This bottle is reasonably fresh too--bottled in mid-February.

I enjoy the interplay between the dark, wheaty malt and clove/banana yeast esters.

 

You know, I saw fresh Tucher Dunkelweiß the other day -- I sort of want to give it a try now.

 

I almost always keep Urweisse (Ayinger) stocked in my home bar.